May 2015 - Thomas Gainsborough

Portrait of Mrs Sarah Siddons, 1785

National Gallery, London

Gainsborough's model, Sarah Siddons was a Welsh-born actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She played many of the great roles of tragedy, eschewing comedy. Her success was due to her complete concentration upon the character whom she played: she identified herself with a role and seemed possessed by it, oblivious of all else around her.